Prosecutors Investigating Serious Crimes Receive State Awards

Two prosecutors, V. Vidugirienė and T. Uldukis, from the General Prosecutor's Office's Organized Crime and Corruption Investigation Department, have been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Cross of the Knights of Lithuania by the President. These state honors recognize their significant contributions to investigating and prosecuting complex and high-profile criminal cases.

Prosecutor V. Vidugirienė received her award for skillfully organizing and leading pre-trial investigations, as well as for her active and principled support of state prosecution in cases that garnered significant public attention. Her notable work includes organizing and prosecuting the espionage case against Algirdas Paleckis, who is imprisoned for allegedly spying for Russia. She also handled the case of Mindaugas Janutis and Tatjana Beleckaja, convicted of spying for Belarus. Earlier in her career at the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor's Office, she oversaw the investigation into opaque public procurement at Sodra, resulting in fines for former company executives and employees.

Vidugirienė is currently involved in supporting the prosecution in the case of Druskininkai Mayor Ričardas Malinauskas and judges accused of corruption, which is before the Lithuanian Court of Appeal. She is also organizing investigations into alleged corruption at the State Plant Service, with suspicions involving Member of Parliament Saulius Skvernelis, former MP Kazimieras Starkevičius, and suspended officials from the service.

Prosecutor T. Uldukis was honored for his professional work in uncovering, revealing, and preventing the activities of organized groups and criminal associations, as well as actions threatening the Republic of Lithuania. His work includes prosecuting the case of a Ukrainian national convicted for setting fire to an Ikea store in Vilnius and planning terrorist acts in Lithuania and Latvia. Uldukis also oversaw the criminal case of Romas Zamolskis, who was convicted in absentia for murders and other serious crimes committed decades ago. Furthermore, he prosecuted Arturo Daile, convicted for a tragic fire in Vilnius in 2007 that resulted in six deaths.